Archive for the 'DIET PILLS AND SUPPLEMENTS' Category

Among the seemingly millions of weight loss programs, plans (and gimmicks) that are available on the Net, few combine effectiveness and ease of use as well as the (relatively) new guarana supplement.

Guarana is a shrub found growing in the Amazon Basin, mostly in Brazil.

The guarana berry has been used for centuries in the Brazilian culture, but has only recently been commercialized in the U.S.

There are many advocates of the use of guarana for increasing energy and stamina, and in stimulating the cognitive process.

Guarana contains caffeine in a considerably larger percentage than found in coffee or tea, and its effects are similar as a stimulant.  However, the research that has been done so far indicates that the guarana seed has other beneficial properties.

Guarana has been shown to offer antioxidant and antibacterial effects, as well as increasing memory retention and physical endurance.

It also seems to act as an appetite inhibitor, causing the user to feel ‘full’ after less food consumption. In a 2007 study of its effects on the human body, an improvement was recorded in mood, as well as in memory and alertness.

For years, so called diet pills have been around, espousing the miracle of weight loss without doing anything other than take a regular tablet.

They can be divided into two categories and they are herbal supplements and those based on chemicals.

Whilst there has been no research to prove that they work or not, commonsense should prevail and once you understand the basic premise that to lose weight you must burn off more calories than you consume then it is obvious that weight loss supplements really do not fit the bill.

People will spend whatever it takes to lose weight so every new miracle pill will grab attention and it will be sell.

So, promises abound of the wonders that can be achieved taking one of the multitudes of slimming products available in this very lucrative market. But beware and ask yourself can it really be that easy.

There may well be certain herbs that suppress the appetite or chemical formulas that do exactly the same thing but the bottom line is will they actually help you, not only lose your excess weight but also maintain the that loss for years to come.

There is absolutely no evidence to prove that weight loss pills, be they natural or made of chemicals, actually work.

However, with pharmacies in the UK stocking their shelves for the first time ever with a tablet proclaiming to help lose weight, people may just need reminding of that fact.

The manufacturers of the pill called Alli claim that it stops the body absorbing fat and further it can increase the amount of weight lost by an extra fifty percent. Side effects have already been reported including diarrhea and very bad flatulence.

Another proclaimed weight loss product is Adios, which a formula is made of purely herbal ingredients including butternut, extract of boldo and bladder wrack seaweed.

Flaunted as being a concoction that will stimulate the rate of which fat is burned in the body.

Professor Finer, of the University College London, is a consultant endocrinologist; he remains unconvinced about all these different products that offer so much for overweight people. He says that in all cases they have little or no effect as the dosage of the core ingredients is so low.

Losing weight is necessary if you are overweight. Your body will be in better shape and it will also make you look and feel healthy as well.

To lose weight, people need to follow an exercise routine and a good diet plan.

Exercising at least 30 minutes per day and a healthy diet plan are important in order to burn the extra layer of fats.

Therefore, losing weight is not easy because it requires lot of time and effort. Because of this, some people may choose the easy route and take weight loss pills.

However, one should think twice before taking the pills as they can have very harmful effects.

If you do choose weight loss pills, always consult a doctor first. A dietitian will make an analysis of your weight and your body mass index (BMI). The doctor will then prescribe the medicine depending on various factors including a family’s medical history such as high blood pressure, cancer or heart problems.

Remember that pills can have various side effects and allergic reactions. The most commonly used pill is Xenical. This pill drains the excess fats through constant bowel movements.

More and more evidence is finding that artificial sweeteners increase your chances of gaining weight.

These artificial sweeteners go by the names “Nutrasweet,” “Splenda,” “Sweet and Low,” and “Aspartame.”

These foods include: breath mints, soft drinks, frozen ice, fruit spreads, ice creams, iced tea, hot chocolate, jams, syrups, nutrition bars and drinks and various sugar free products.

These are added as a replacement of sugar, which many dieters fear can contribute to weight gain.

But there have been many harmful effects attributed to natural sweeteners and recent research now shows that artificial sweeteners not only fail to help dieters lose weight, but can also lead to an increase in weight gain.

Potential side effects of aspartame

Aspartame is considered a neurotoxin by many scientists. Though not proven, many believe that aspartame can lead to brain damage.

The damage caused by aspartame can lead to problems such as seizures, lupus, Alzheimer’s disease and fibromyalgia.

Aspartame has also been reported to make it more difficult for diabetics to regulate their normal blood sugar levels.

Aspartame hurts diets, doesn’t help

Recent research has shown that aspartame can actually lead to an increase in weight gain rather than a decrease.

So named because it is based on the stimulating herb derived from ephedrine, the Ephedra diet pill is a beta-adrenergic agonist.

Scientific evidence for Ephedra diet pills

Usually, ephedrine acts as a power stimulator which boosts the metabolism. This pill can also be used to treat various conditions such as asthma, common cold, and blockage of bronchial tubes.

Studies show that this herb has great benefits for weight trainers, athlete and bodybuilders. Among those, some of the amazing benefits are weight loss, burning fat and maintaining muscle strength.

Who needs Ephedra diet pill?

Athletes take Ephedra to boost performance. Also, bodybuilders can benefit from Ephedra in various ways. The herb causes the breakdown of fat cells and stimulates muscles and enhances performance.

Side-effects of Ephedra diet pill:

• The pill is not proposed for people less than 18 years.
• Don’t use the pill if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Don’t use the pill if you have high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, phechromacytoma, liver thyroid, diabetes, anemia, anxiety, nervousness, depression, psychiatric diseases, stroke or seizures.
• Don’t use the pill if you are getting treatment for prostate enlargement.

The Acai berry is internationally known as the fruits with the greatest antioxidant properties in existence. [Antioxidant Supplements]

It is classed as a Superfood and has received a lot of media coverage, including the Oprah Winfrey Show and CBS’s Early show.

Unfortunately many companies are now making ridiculous claims for its use in losing weight, none of which are backed up by any scientific research.

It has been revealed that most of the diet bloggers who have been detailing their massive weight loss have turned out to be fakes.

The scam was discovered because the same image was used in every blog to show a before and after scenario. What is even more shocking is that the woman pictured has been identified as a model called Julia; her original photograph was digitally enhanced for use on the blogs.

The Director of Communications for Power Supplements, Bob Peters agrees that the Acai berry is now surrounded by bogus information and he hopes the guilty companies are prosecuted and stopped from trading.

However he wants people to know the power of its potential and hopes that they can see past recent incidents.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, are concerned about what many companies claim to be natural weight loss supplements and drugs.

Most of these potions make claims of incredibly fast and effective weight loss simply by ingesting the product.

According to the FDA there are at least 70 of these “wonder drugs” on the US market all claiming that you can lose large amounts of weight in a short time. They also claim that their products are “all natural” and therefore by definition resumed to be safe and healthy.

But according to the FDA a minimum of 70 of these “natural” products contain a variety of artificial chemicals and medications. This of course makes them not “herbal, natural, or drug free” as the company’s packaging and advertising often claims.

Many of these natural weight loss concoctions are nothing more than disguised diuretics or laxatives and in some cases even contain anti-seizure drugs.

What is more the FDA believes that this is only the tip of the weight loss iceberg and that they will discover many more dubious claims in just the next few weeks.

Probiotics is another one of those words that we’re expected to remember when talking about health, nutrition and dieting.

This new word refers to the friendly bacteria that help your body effectively digest your food.

Much research has been done into what probiotics can do for your health. Most of these benefits are associated with improving absorption, facilitating healthy digestion and strengthening the immune system.

However, this research is young and much research still needs to be done about how probiotics interact with different diseases.

How this helps weight loss?

Healthy intestines contain intestinal flora. This is bacteria that aids in bodily digestion. But some intestinal systems lack intestinal flora due to antibiotics.

Many holistic practitioners believe that Lactobacillus can help obese people lose weight by improving their metabolism and killing harmful intestinal micro-organisms that contribute to the fat formation.

Additionally, recent studies have shown that lactic acid bacteria can break down various complex carbohydrates, including those contained in beans, starches, and difficult-to-digest vegetables, thus reducing bloating, intestinal accumulation of waste, and gastrointestinal discomfort so typical for vegetarians and people on low-fat, high-carb, and high fiber diets.

Probiotic supplements

How many times do we hear about the miracle weight loss cures that include such wonder products such as ‘Slim Choc’, amongst others?

Each year millions are spent on these products that profess to be sensational, when in fact there is no evidence that what they actually claim is indeed true.

These supposedly wonder products persuade more than 200 thousand people each year, and amongst the victims nearly 80 percent are women, though there are also many men who are usually persuaded to buy treatments for hair loss or impotence.

These scam products are often aimed at more susceptible people who have serious weight problems, though unfortunately these are often of no worth and can at times be harmful.

The Director of Consumer Protection at the OFT denounced the ‘Slim-Choc’ product, warning consumers against purchasing it.

Thousands of consumers brought this scam product, which professed it was a miracle weight losing cure for obese and overweight people, that would burn off fat without exercise or dieting, and that consumers would lose 20lb in just 20 days, while actually eating chocolate.

People bought a forty-day supply for £37/$50 a pound without having lost one pound in weight by the end of the twenty days, the only loss was their cash.